In this episode, Ashley chats with Jonathan Fralick, VP of Racquet Sports at Invited — one of the largest owners and operators of private clubs in the U.S.— to talk about all things pickleball, tennis, and the fast-evolving landscape of racquet sports.
Jonathan shares how Invited grew from 7 pickleball courts to 400+ in four years through building and converting courts, why pickleball now takes up most of his day-to-day focus, and what he enjoys about mentoring racquet sports directors.
He also encourages young pros to learn the business side of racquet sports. From understanding participation and revenue to managing court sheets, payroll, and the pro shop, Jonathan explains why those skills matter if you want to lead a program long-term.
Featured Topics:
✅ Building vs. converting courts: how Invited reached 400 pickleball courts
✅ Why pickleball became a major focus for private clubs
✅ Pickleball players vs. tennis players: lessons, spend, and social behavior
✅ What’s next: private club strategy as pickleball growth levels out
✅ The evolution of pickleball play style — and his concern about it becoming more “baseline-driven”
✅ Tennis outlook + concerns about college tennis changes impacting junior pathways
✅ Career advice for young pros: business acumen, forecasting, and leadership
Learn more about Invited here: https://www.invitedclubs.com/